If you could add belt drive to your bike, would you? Until recently this was simply not an option unless your frame was belt-compatible. However, at last year’s Sea Otter Classic Bikerumor checked out Veer’s Split Belt M1 kit. This clever kit features a spliced belt that’s fastened with rivets, eliminating the need for an opening or coupling on the frame.

The initial Split Belt M1 kit was suitable for single-speed bikes, but as promised the company has just released a Split Belt Pro version, which opens up compatibility with several brands’ internally geared hubs. Veer also plans to add more sprocket options to provide different gear ratios, not to mention freewheel/freehub and e-bike compatibility in the future.

Veer starts with a belt that’s made by Gates Industrial Belts, the current leader in bicycle belt drive systems. Since their initial versions, they’ve switched to a new carbon fiber reinforced nitrile belt that is stronger, more durable, and more flexible than their outgoing polyurethane belts.

Veer’s belts are split with a deep V-shaped cut on one end, which allows the other end of the belt to be lined up and pinned in place with stainless steel rivets. Veer says the V-shaped cut distributes force evenly across all the teeth within the spliced portion of the belt, and the belts meet ISO standards for equivalent strength to a chain.

Veer’s belts are not adjustable after installation, as the rivets are not intended to be removed and replaced. The belts are delivered at your required length; you just have to provide your chainstay length in mm’s while ordering. Veer can provide belts of any length, even for recumbent, cargo or tandem bikes. Installing the belt does require Veer’s special Riveting Tool, which is sold separately from the kit for $34.99.

Perhaps the biggest update with the Pro kit is the range of internal hub compatible rear sprockets that are available with it. Veer now has sprockets for Shimano’s Alfine/Nexus and Sturmey Archer hubs, but they’ve stated Rohloff and Enviolo sprockets are coming too. Veer is also planning to add single speed freewheel/freehub sprockets for the Pro kits.

Veer’s rings are machined from case-hardened and nickel-plated chromoly. Their sprockets feature slotted teeth to help shed mud and debris, and proprietary flanges to ensure perfect belt alignment. The current front rings are compatible with 5-bolt 130 BCD cranks, and the current Pro kits come with 72t front rings and 30t rear sprockets. Again, more gear ratio and crank compatibility options are coming down the line. The one thing the belt kits are not compatible with is a coaster brake.

*Photos c. Veer Cycle

The Split Belt Pro kits are sold direct through Veer’s webstore, and international shipping is available. The complete kit includes the belt, front ring, rear sprocket, rivets and chainring bolt spacers, and it sells for $349. And a final note for industry people; the Split Belt Pro kit can be customized for OEM requirements, and sample orders are currently available to OEM partners.

Since it’s a proprietary system, you’re already locked into buying replacement belts from them. The belt is their main differentiator anyway.

Unless you mean that you’d have to buy a different belt if you got the wrong length. Hopefully they’d allow an exchange if you didn’t use the single-use pins. Test the length by trying it out with bent paper clips first.

It would have been nice if they could have made the belt with squared ends instead of tapered, then you could at least shorten the belt by cutting the same amount off each end. But maybe there is a strength problem with squared ends.

As an aside, it looks like the rear cog doesn’t have any way to keep the belt from slipping off like the front rings have. Is that going to cause a problem or is slipping more of a problem on the front. ISTR Gates Carbon Drive has a retention mechanism for both front and rear.

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